Speaker 1 proposed and the Ashland Board of City Commissioners approved a temporary suspension of timed downtown parking from Dec. 22 through Jan. 9 to allow the police chief to collect and analyze license-plate reader data before the board takes further action.

"I would recommend that we suspend the timed parking, from December 22 through January 9," Speaker 1 said, describing a follow-up meeting with the police chief and framing the suspension as a way "to get a little relief during the holidays" for shoppers. He specified that the measure would not affect residential downtown parking, handicap parking or loading zones.

Speaker 1 said the pause would let the police chief "come up with all the data, and we can do it a little bit more intelligent, decisions on the parking." The motion to suspend timed parking was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: the police chief is scheduled to present the collected license-plate reader data at the board's Jan. 8 meeting to guide any longer-term parking policy adjustments. The suspension is scheduled to take effect Dec. 22 and expire Jan. 9 unless the board acts otherwise.

The board approved the temporary change as a short-term operational step; no enforcement or fines related to timed meters were recorded during the suspension period at this meeting.